That's why West Aurora's Jared Crutcher is back on the market, announcing Sunday on Twitter he has reopened his recruiting. The 6-foot-5 senior forward had committed in late December to NCAA Division III Loras.

Crutcher said he and his parents came to the decision last weekend, deciding with an older brother already in college, it was going to cost the family too much money.

"In the end, it was going to be more costly than we originally thought," Crutcher said.

The slender youngster's stock also continues to rise.

He's averaging 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots for the Blackhawks (25-4), who have won 17 straight and play at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Belleville West (29-2) in the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional.

"Jared has played at such a high level, I think it was in his best interests," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said, "I hope we can keep things going."

Crutcher had a monster game in the 82-67 win over Bolingbrook in the sectional final, scoring 26 points with 14 rebounds and six blocked shots.

"Number 10 (Crutcher) for West Aurora is an exact replica on the defensive end, but EJ has a little more meat on him. He's 225, 226."

Liddell has more range, offensively. The three-year starter needs 34 points to break the 100-year-old program's career scoring record in just three seasons.

Muniz said Liddell is just as good off the court as on. His father was a four-year starting lineman at ISU, where his mother starred in volleyball.

"(Liddell) is their go-to guy," Johnson said. "A lot of their actions revolve around getting him up and going."

The Maroons, who haven't lost to a team from Illinois, have other weapons, too.

Malachi Smith, a 6-3 shooting guard and Wright State recruit, transferred from Belleville East. And 5-11 junior Lawrence Brazil III, who's from Belleville, transferred from a private school in St. Louis. All three grew up together in Belleville, Muniz said.

Both teams are capable of going on long runs in a short time.

"I watched their Bolingbrook game and kept wondering how it ended up 16 points," Muniz said. "But they had that late run and hit free throws.

"Our kids know West Aurora is good. Bolingbrook beat us last summer in the title game at the Morris Shootout."